An objective of this research was to achieve direct, well-defined and non-rate-limiting electron transfer between respiratory enzymes and the electrode surface by means of 'Q-wires'. Ensuring direct and fast electron transfer, these molecular wires may ultimately be part of a series of electrode surface modifications leading to the complete, stable and well-defined immobilization of an enzyme of interest. Realization of such a stable protein film may aid in the elucidation of the enzyme’s mechanism and may perhaps lead to (commercially viable) applications, such as biosensors or biofuel cells.